Expert: Nafeesah - 2/3/2010

Question
Hello, I have had anorexia for a little over a month. At first I was really sick and weak but my body soon got used to not eating very much. I haven't had any problems for many weeks.

This morning, however, when I got up to get ready for school, I didn't feel very well. A little bit dizzy and weak. In the shower, I started blacking out and feeling my body collapsing. I was shaking unconrollably and I kneeled to the ground. As soon as I would build up enough strength I would try to stand again. But even using the wall to help me stand, I started blacking out and sliding back to the ground again. This happened multiple times. During all of this I was sick to my stomach and would dry heave every once in a while. After finishing my shower I barely was able to dry off, get dressed, and lay back down in bed.

I figured it was just the flu or something because I have only been on an actual starvation diet for a little over a month. So it shouldn't be too serious, right? Am I justified in thinking this? Or is this a typical situation of anorexia?

Thank you

Answer
By you not eating you're throwing your body off with depriving it of nutrients. You need to eat a balanced diet of grains, fruits, veggies. Giving how you're starving yourself I would incorporate a multi-vitamin to get those nutrients in your body faster. You're blacking out and fainting is a sign you're also causing your blood sugar to drop too fast. I would look at getting some kind of help becauise you're young, but continue this long term and you can face problems like infertility, osteoporosis, brittle hair and nails, and unhealthy skin tone. Don't confuse what you're dealing with to the flu because the symptoms are very different. What you're doing is commonly seen in anorexics and you need to really look at the damage you're doing to your body. I would see a doctor as soon as possible to get help with the symptoms you're dealing with.